Congresswoman Pingree on “Right to Work for Less Act” Vote Tomorrow

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“The bill we are debating this week – which should be called the ‘Right to Work For Less Act’ – is designed to let employers avoid paying overtime and could force workers to take comp time instead. But the comp time could only be used when it suits the employer,” Pingree said ont the House floor. “Rolling back the clock to do away with the 40-hour work week is a step backwards and is a lousy deal for American workers.”

The bill, H.R. 1406, would give employers the ability to offer compensatory time off in exchange for any overtime wages the worker has earned. Under this bill, the employer can take all of those wages earned above 40 hours and put them into a pot for future time off that is controlled by the employer. In other words, the worker would not get paid for the work they are perform during their current pay period. But the employer can deny requests to use that comp time off if it isn’t convenient to the company.

Unused time would be paid back at the end of the year, amounting to a no-interest loan to employers from workers.

Dozens of organizations around the country, including the Maine Women’s Lobby, have written to Congress to oppose the bill.

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In the past Carol was disappointed with the lack of news coverage of this very dynamic community on the eastern end of Portland. That's how and why this blog came into being. The main goal was to recognize people on the Hill leading unique lives, start-up businesses in the area, and other subjects of interest to people on the Hill. While local coverage of the Hill has improved, there is still plenty to report on and Carol plans on doing that for a long time to come.